Levine approved for key U.S. health post, becoming first openly transgender official confirmed by Senate

FILE PHOTO: Rachel Levine appears during her confirmation hearing to be Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee in Washington, U.S. February 25, 2021. Caroline Brehman/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted to approve President Joe Biden's choice of Rachel Levine to become assistant U.S. health secretary, the first openly transgender person to be confirmed by the chamber.

Despite strong opposition from Republicans, Levine was confirmed on a vote of 52-48.